In short, the founding fathers helped unleash democratic and egalitarian forces that would put an end to "many of their enlightened hopes and their kind of elitist leadership." They "succeeded in preventing any duplication of themselves."
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This is a variation, of course, on the central argument laid out in Mr. Wood's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1992 book, "The Radicalism of the American Revolution": namely, that the Revolution helped smother the patronage, paternalism and hierarchical relationships of the 18th century and usher in a new, democratic, capitalistic world; that it undermined the whole idea of aristocracy and elitist virtue and helped bring about a new society defined by the common man.
Increased consumer spending driven by purchasing with credit.
Since 1923 a rock found with inscriptions have been studied. The symbols look just like Viking Runes that would sustain the theory that Vigings have been to America long before Columbus. The theory is however contested by experts, some of which thinks that itis a hoax. The rock is known as "the Heavener Runestone".
